First FANC mission for D’Entrecasteaux

January 3, 2017 – December 23, 2016, the multi-mission vessel (B2M) D’Entrecasteaux completed a campaign of surveillance and protection of the maritime areas of nearly a month.

Just hours after its departure, the D’Entrecasteaux took part in the police operation fisheries Uatio III , in the waters of the archipelago of Chesterfield, action area of illegal fishermen. He had thus strengthen maritime and air means of FANC already mobilized for the fight against illegal fishing: surveillance frigate Vendemiaire , the patrol boat La Moqueuse , tactical transport aircraft Casa and patrol aircraft and maritime surveillance Guardian.

On his way to the Solomon Islands, the D’Entrecasteaux patrolled areas of reef Belep and Entrecasteaux, north of the exclusive economic zone of New Caledonia.

In early December, the B2M intercepted a ship illegal situation following a report by the Maritime Border Command Australian. Her crew , with air support provided by Casa of the air force , quickly deployed visiting team aboard the ship that has seen the offense of illegal fishing. Equipment and fishery products were apprehended or neutralized: 4 tonnes of sea cucumbers were also stored on board the French vessel at the request of the Maritime Affairs Department of New Caledonia.

This was the first operational mission of this ship in the Armed Forces of New Caledonia (FANC).

This first operational mission of D’Entrecasteaux, during which more than 10,000 kilometers were traveled, made it possible to fully integrate the new vessel into maritime surveillance and protection operations, to refine its concept of employment and To confirm its interoperability with the aeromaritime means of the FANC and the riparian countries.